The Fire soon increased, burnt that Store house, and next seized the Dwelling house of Mr. Samuel Nusam adjoining thereto; from thence the Flames caught the opposite and adjacent Houses of Messers. Haggatt, Lampy, Walker, and Codrington Carrington, Esq; and afterwards took its Course Westward to James Fort; which being consumed, the Fire still increasing, burnt the Houses down in Crown Alley up to Cheapside, its progress was then Eastward, burning and Raging in a most dreadful Manner on the South of Broad-street, toward the high House, called the Coffee-House; which being seized, the Flames communicated their destructive Influence to the House of Mr. Blackman, that of Richard Husbands, Esq; the Secretary, where the publick Records were kept (but those were happily preserved) the House and Stores of General Barwick, Messers. Lary, Black, and some other adjoining Houses, which put the whole Town in Danger of being consumed to Ashes.

The Fire abated about Five o’Clock next Morning. It is computed, that about 160 Houses have been burnt, and ‘its said it was in the richest Part of the Town.”

Manchester Mercury, 20 April 1756.

The Fire having got so great a Head before the Family were apprized of it, that Mr. Duncan himself was obliged to escape thro’ the Front Window of the second Story, and his eldest Daughter, Miss Fanny Duncan, forced to jump out of a back third Story Window, but, thro’ Divine Providence, saved from Death by a Gentleman in the Yard assisting at the Fire, who, as she fell, reclining caught her in his Arms, and thereby broke the Fall.

The House-Keeper, who jumped out of the same Story Window, was so terribly bruised, that she expired before Relief could be brought: And the Negro Wench, who slept below, making for the Front-Door, was so scorched before she got out, that it is thought she’ll lose some of her Limbs.

It is remarkable in this Case, that the House was burning better than an Hour, before the Citizens had proper Notice of it, altho’ almost our whole Hemisphere appeared Light by the Blaze, notwithstanding it was a foggy dull Morning: And when the Inhabitants were assembled, the Fire had got to such a Height, that nothing under God, but their Vigilance, added to the Snow which was then lying on the Tops of the Houses, preserved that Part of the Town from Destruction.

Mrs. DUNCAN, as a Wife, was all a Man should wish for, all a good Man could desire: Her Character in every Relation of Life was an exemplary Pattern; and if we may judge of the Fruit by the Blossoms, Her Daughter, so providentially rescued from the devouring Flames, will exhibit in her maturer life, all the Matron Virtues of her deceased Mother. The worthy Husband, and amiable Daughter, behave under this severe Calamity, with Christian Magnamanity: And it may truly be said of them—Viruit dum patitur vincit.

The most Judicious in New-York, have long since remarked, that, were out Nightly-Watch under proper Regulations, and composed of Persons who have Estates to take care of, the many Burglaries, Street-Robberies &c. happening in this City, would, in a great Measure, be thereby prevented:—Nay, some have gone so far as to doubt, whether even the late unhappy Fire had got to the Head it did, if such Men had been perambulating the Streets on their Duty, instead of lurking behind Stoops for a sordid Acquisition, or lounging in a Watch-House, regardless of the Properties they are paid for, to protect.

‘The City Watch (says a late Writer who distinguishes himself by a crooked Signature) is a Grievance of the first Magnitude. The Citizens are summoned, at least four times a Year to watch, or pay their Two and Six pence to a Parcel of idle, drunken, vigilant snorers, who never quelled any nocturnal Tumult in their Lives (nor, as we can learn, were ever the first Discoverers of a Fire breaking out) but would, perhaps, be as ready to join in a Burglary, as any Thief in Christendom. A hopeful Set, indeed, to defend this rich and populous City, against the Terrors of the Night.’”

In Philadelphia, the Legislature has passed an ACT, for regulating and continuing the Nightly-Watch, and enlightening the Streets, Lanes, and Alleys of that City; and for raising of Money on the Inhabitants, and Estates of the City, for defraying the necessary Expence thereof.—There, scarce a Robbery is heard of now-a-Days; nor a Fire never known to have been accompanied with the late shocking Circumstances:—Every House-keeper is obliged to attend the Watch himself, under severe Penalties; or to send his next Mail in the House; and hardly that is put up with, if the Master of the Family be in Health. Thus, what is one Man’s business, is made every Man’s Business; and the City regularly protected:—But, the Watch in this City, having Nothing to lose, have ALL to hope for.

Our worthy Magistrates, it is therefore hoped, will take the above into Consideration: And, order the ringing the Fire-Bell in such a Manner for the future, as that it may not exceed, if possible, the first Cry of FIRE, above a quarter of an Hour.

New-York Gazette, February 21, 1757.

THE STORY ALSO APPEARED IN THE NEW-YORK MERCURY.

“NEW-YORK, February 21. On Wednesday Morning last, between four and five of the Clock, a dreadful Fire was discovered in the House of Mr. Thomas Duncan, of this City, Merchant, which was attended with a melancholy and most fatal Catastrophe, for before the unhappy Family, lulled in profound Sleep and Security, could be alarmed, the Flame within the House became universal.

Mr. Duncan himself escaped out of a Window, by the Assistance of a Ladder, as he fortunately lodged in the Front Part of the House, and his eldest Daughter, a young Lady of about Eighteen, being with her Mother, and four Children who were sick of the Small-pox, in the Nursery, in the back Part of the House, and not having that Conveniency, had no other Chance of avoiding the devouring Fire, than by throwing herself out of a Window three Stories high, and was most miraculously received into the Arms of a Gentleman, who had encouraged her to this dangerous, tho’ only Expedient, and who was thus the generous Instrument of preserving her Life at the Risque of his own. The Nurse made the like Attempt, but did not survive three Minutes after she reached the Ground.

Mrs. Duncan, tho’ earnestly entreated, and assured of receiving the same kind Assistance which had saved her Daughter, was so overcome by maternal Affection, and Tenderness for her Children, whom she could not bear to leave in that dreadful Situation, that she rejected all Importunities, and in a few Moments, with them, expired in the Flames.

The House, with many valuable Effects, were entirely destroyed; but by the Industry of the Inhabitants, who are deservedly celebrated for their Zeal and Dexterity, in extinguishing Fires, assisted by the Gentlemen of the Army, and the Soldiers now quartered here, it was prevented from extending farther.

Mrs. Duncan was a Lady as distinguished for her agreeable Person, as the Charms and Embellishments of her Mind: Besides an exemplary Piety and boundless Charity, she was eminently blessed with every Grace and Accomplishment requisite to form the best of WIVES, the best of MOTHERS, and the best of FRIENDS. No wonder then, that so many united Perfections rendered her as generally beloved and admired, as she was known; and justly adds to the heavy Affliction with which such an amazing and most effecting Scene must naturally inspire every Breast induced with the smallest Spark of Humanity or Compassion; but more peculiarly those who by their Relation and Friendship with her, were daily Witnesses of her unparallel Merit and Excellence; and who by this deplorable Event, are deprived of Blessings as great as they are irretrievable.

The only Consolation left the Friends of this truly valuable Lady, is certain Assurance, that like ELIJAH, she is triumphantly translated, with her innocent Babes, from a World of perpetual Inquietudes and Dangers, from which this sad Calamity convinces us, that even the best and most deserving can plead no Exemption, to the transcendant Joys of Heaven, the only adequate Residence for such shining VIRTUE and such spotless INNOCENCE. One Mr. Flanagan, for being too Industrious at the above Fire, was committed to Goal.”

New York Mercury, February 21, 1757.